Our Team
Our Team in the USA
FR. DEUSDEDIT NAJJA
Member, Kibanga Health Foundation
DAN BUNCH
Director, Friends of Kibanga Medical Center
MARIA WALE
Director, Friends of Kibanga Medical Center
KAREN AKANA
Director, Friends of Kibanga Medical Center
Father Deusdedit (Deus) Najja was raised in Kibanga, Uganda, where he lived with his grandmother. Due to the example of his uncle, Father Deusdedit Kirunda, and the loving guidance of his grandmother, he was drawn to the priesthood. He attended Saint Thomas Aquinas, Katigondo Major Seminary in Uganda. While there, he was invited to complete his theological studies at Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California. He returned to Uganda and was ordained a priest where he served in several parishes. He was then called to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where he currently serves as an associate pastor. While initially being assigned to parishes in Uganda, he looked after both the spiritual and corporal needs of the community. He was responsible for several village water projects before dreaming big about a medical center to serve the dire medical needs in Kibanga. Through his guidance, our non-profit was formed and the dream is becoming a reality.
Dan retired from the Los Angeles Police Department after 35 years of service. He worked many assignments, culminating with responsibility as a lieutenant of SWAT, a critical response unit dedicated to aiding those in the direst of situations. He has volunteered for over 30 years as an instructor of religious education serving high school teens as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Dan is a parishioner at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church, where he met Father Deus.
Maria is a retired educator with the Los Angeles Unified School District. During her 38 years, she served as a high school teacher, counselor, Asst. Principal, Principal, District Director of Operations and Instructional Services, and Assistant Superintendent. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Saint Kateri Women’s Guild. She and her husband live in the Santa Clarita Valley and are parishioners at the church where Father Deus served as Associate Pastor.
Karen met Father Deus in 2014 while he was doing his pastoral internship at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Northridge. Karen is a retired Assistant Principal from the Los Angeles Unified School District. She is an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society of Key Women Educators and serves on the Executive Board of the Los Angeles Council of Catholic Women. Karen and her husband live in the San Fernando Valley.
Our Team in Uganda
GERALD BUKENYA
Member, Kibanga Health Foundation
FR. DEUSDEDIT KIRUNDA
Member, Kibanga Health Foundation
ANTHONY MATEEGA
Member, Kibanga Health Foundation
ANNET SSEMUJJU
Member, Kibanga Health Foundation
Gerald Bukenya is a lawyer by profession with over 12 years of experience in litigation and human rights work. He also has vast experience in project design, implementation, budgeting, monitoring, and governance in the construction industry. He has trained and participated in human rights, gender and health advocacy, and has worked towards the administration of justice through the International Humanitarian Law. Gerald has been leading innovation and change with project management and strategic planning at Inter Alia. He is also a member of the Board of the Directors of Arch-Engineering & Contractors Uganda Limited and Legal Advisor of Uganda Young Farmers Association.
Father Deusdedit Kirunda was born in Kibanga, Uganda. He attended Kisubi Minor Seminary and then Saint Thomas Aquinas Katigondo Major Seminary in Uganda. Deusdedit Kirunda was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Kampala. He has served in various capacities and ministries within the Archdiocese. He was the founder of the Immaculate Conception Kibanga Parish and as Pastor he was able to accomplish many projects serving the spiritual and corporal needs of his community. He was responsible for the parish and the nearby communities getting electricity and a well source. He was also instrumental in promoting education and encouraging parents to take their children to school. Through his dedication and the financial support from his long-time friends in Germany, Father Deusdedit led the founding of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions-Kibanga Primary School, which currently educates over 500 students yearly. As a member of the Kibanga Health Foundation, Father Deusdedit was responsible for the donation of the 4.5 acres of land dedicated for the Saint Gianna Molla Medical Center-Kibanga.
Anthony Mateega began his career at Statewide Insurance Co Ltd as an underwriting superintendent for the Motor Accident, Fire & Claims Departments. He is
currently the Manager of the Marine/Motor Department and is a member of the Uganda Insurance Institute. Anthony is a director of St. Joseph’s Agro-Business U. Ltd and was the overall winner of the Best Farmer’s Award in Uganda. Through the use of his own innovative practices in sustainable agriculture and his attendance and participation in Best Management Sustainable Agricultural Practices, an event sponsored by KLM airlines, the Netherlands Embassy, and spearheaded by New Vision Group Uganda, Anthony has set the standard for sustainable agriculture. Anthony is currently the Vice Chairman of Uganda
Catholic Council of Lay Apostolate and formerly the Head of the Archdiocesan Laity. Additionally, he is a board member of various schools and health centers.
Annet Ssemujju is a primary school teacher by profession, having attained her degree in education at the Makerere University, Uganda in 1996. With over 25 years of experience in education, she was part of a team that successfully founded Saint Charles Lwanga & Companions Kibanga Mugigi, a primary school in Kibanga Mpigi District, where she is head instructor. She was also instrumental in the creation of a kindergarten section known as Nennolina Kibanga. Annet trained with the Early Childhood Care and Development Trainers Association and collaborated as a research associate on the government program themed “Are Our Children Learning?” She is currently a chief examiner on the Uganda National Examination Board for primary students.